“But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.”
Hebrews 10:39
Christ came to save us from the Power of Sin. This is the 2nd “P” of salvation
We learned from our previous two studies that we are in a tight spot regarding sin. We have all sinned. Adam and Eve sinned and we have inherited the nature of sin so that we sin without having to think much about it.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me
Psalms 51:5
We are born with a bent towards sin like the “slash” in this picture:
SIN \ Righteousness (Jesus)
But when we invite Jesus into our lives, he gives us a new heart and now we are bent towards Him and righteousness like this picture
SIN / Righteousness (Jesus)
Because we are born with a “bent” towards sin, if left unchecked, we will reap the Penalty of Sin i.e., eternal death. But, through the work of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, we are drawn towards Him and eternal life.
Once we confessed our sins and repented of our sins and received Him into our lives, we move from the curse of death to the promise of eternal life.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”
John 5:24
Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
Acts 3:19
________________________________________________________
While the saved are still mortal and subject to the first death, they are not subject to the second death. Instead they are resurrected to eternal life.
Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power,
Revelation 20:6
Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
John 5:28, 29
Yes, It is at the resurrection where we realize the promise of eternal life. We die the first death with the promise of being resurrected. It is not until then that we “put on immortality” and will never die again.
“So when this corruptible has put on incorruption (subject to death), and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
1 Corinthians 15:54
The above verse is in the context of the second coming when the trumpet shall sound in the dead in Christ shall rise first.
“Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.
1 Corinthians 15: 51-52
This is in complete agreement with what Paul wrote to the Thessalonians:
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
1 Thessalonians 4:16
Plainly stated, we are not immortal until Jesus returns, resurrects us, and gives it to us.
___________________________________________
Let’s turn our attention to the second “P” of salvation. Jesus saves us from the Power of sin that is in our life.
As Christ was brought back from death to life by the glorious power of the Father, so we, too, should live a new kind of life.
Romans 6:4
After receiving Christ, we are to live a new kind of life. It is a life of obedience to his word….his commands
If you love me, keep my commandments
John 14:15
With our new heart, we will follow Jesus and do His will, not in order to be saved from the penalty of sin, but because we have a new heart.
When we are baptized, we began a life of obedience. We were following the command of Jesus to be baptized as a demonstration of a changed life.
Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Romans 6:4
Jesus gives us the power to walk in this new life. We do not say, “Thank you Lord for saving me from death. I will take it from here.“
No! As we received eternal life by faith, we are to walk by faith.
As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
Colossians 2:6
What does it mean to be saved from the Power of sin?
The sins that you once enjoyed, you no longer enjoy them. It doesn’t mean you don’t have a struggle with them, because you will. The old life will try to draw you back
The things you didn’t enjoy before, you now enjoy (e.g. Bible study, prayer, fellowship with other Christians, and doing good for others),
Because of Jesus and your rebirth, you will be different. Your friends will see a change in you. The liar will stop lying, the thief will stop stealing, the adulterer will stop chasing women. You will have a new appreciation for your parents. You will be careful how you use the name of Jesus and God.
Why? Because Jesus has saved you from the power of sin which is transgression of His law. Instead of transgressing, you will have a new respect for the will of God and desire to do it.
_______________________________________________________
Now listen carefully what the word has to say about this new walk. It will not be without resistance from the enemy and from your own sinful nature.
The carnal (flesh) nature that you still possess has resistance to the spiritual nature Jesus has given you. As time goes on, you will experience the battle that takes place daily between good and evil between carnal and spiritual. Paul put it this way:
“…that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.“
Romans 8:4
Did you catch that? The requirements of the law are fulfilled if we walk according to the Spirit and not the flesh. Obedience comes from a new nature and walking by that. Obedience is not the way to salvation, it is the result of salvation.
Our daily life with its many activities is called a “walk.” It is what you do and say every day. These activities are to be done in faith or trust, just the same way you received Christ (by faith)…as stated above:
As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
Colossians 2:6
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:1
Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy.
Romans 13:13
By walking in the Spirit, we are following the spirit-inspired word of God which is His will. We will not have activities that include such things as described above e.g. drunkenness and parties. Why? Because our hearts have been changed. If the heart has not been changed, we will continue in those things that please and satisfy the sinful nature.
___________________________________________________________
Your new walk will not go unchallenged by the flesh. It will call you back at weak moments in particular. It will try to draw you back.
As our opening verse states, it is possible to be drawn back to perdition (state of sin and unbelief). This verse is set in the context of endurance from the verses before it:
“For you have need of endurance so that after you have done the will of God you may receive the promise.”
Hebrews 10:36
Notice that those who receive the promise do the will of God. This is how they are identified and what distinguishes the true from the false follower. Jesus asked,
“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.
Luke 6: 46-48
The Bible is filled with warnings of staying close to Jesus and to put on the whole armor of God. We are in a fight, but as we “walk” in faith with Jesus we should have no fear.
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Ephesians 6:11
The weapons you use will assist in your daily walk and the fight between the carnal and the spiritual nature
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints
Ephesians 6:14-18
If your daily walk was not a dangerous one to your soul, why would we be told to suit up with all these items? Notice the items that help us in our daily activities:
truth (God’s word)
righteousness (given to us by faith in Jesus)
salvation (knowing God has saved us)
the gospel of peace (a kind nature towards other people)
But most of all, we are told to take the shield of faith. Above all the items listed, the shield of faith is the most important. If we have a shield, we can block the attack of swords, knives, and darts. This faith is called trust in the one who was able to change our hearts in the first place. Do you trust Him? If you do, you have the shield that will repulse the attacker.
It is clear from God’s word that the enemy and our own carnal nature will bring upon us trouble to discourage us and entice us back to the life we once left. Sorry to say, but there are many who are overcome by self and the enemy and lose their way. Jesus told a parable that makes this clear.
____________________________________________________________
The Sower sowed seed. The seed fell on different types of soil. Some of the seed produced a crop, while others did not. The disciples did not understand the parable and asked Jesus. His explanation is not a parable, but the truth behind the story:
“Therefore hear the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside. But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
Matthew 13: 18-23
Notice that the parable as explained by Jesus is talking about people who “hear the word.” Some people hear it and don’t understand it because the wicked one snatches it away from them.
Other people hear it and are joyful (notice it doesn’t say that they understood it), but there is no root and therefore no endurance or strength. This is the person whose experience is based on feeling and not on the truth.
The third person hears the word also does not understand it, but their cares and the lure of the world and its riches choke the word and they stop growing or producing.
But the last person both hears and understands. They have roots that give endurance and the cares and riches do not choke them. Their walk is one of faith in Jesus and understanding of His word.
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Matthew 7:21
_________________________________________________________
Jesus saves us from the penalty of sin and the power of sin. Salvation is not just being rescued from the wages of sin (eternal death), but it is a rescue from our sinful ways in this life.
It is not a one-time transaction in front of the church. It is a walk of growing in Christ. But this walk is not ours. We are to entrust it to Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith.
Many have an idea that they must do some part of the work alone. They have trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of sin, but now they seek by their own efforts to live aright. But every such effort must fail. Jesus says, “Without Me, ye can do nothing.” Our growth in grace, our joy, our usefulness,–all depend upon our union with Christ. It is by communion with Him, daily, hourly,–by abiding in Him, –that we are to grow in grace. He is not only the Author but the Finisher of our faith. It is Christ first and last and always. He is to be with us, not only at the beginning and the end of our course but at every step of the way. David says,
“I have set the Lord always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.”
Psalm 16:8.
Steps to Christ, p. 69
________________________________________________________
Next time, we will discuss the third “P” of salvation. Blessings to you as you walk with Jesus.